Campaigners target tram ban on dogs

Dog lovers are putting pressure on Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to lift the ban on dogs travelling on Metrolink.

Paul Bradby, from Chorlton, who owns a black Schnauzer, is heading up the campaign to have the “unnecessary” ban lifted.

“Having waited so long for the new line to be built and supported it all the way, I was so disappointed when I found I couldn’t use it,” Mr Bradby said after discovering the “no dogs” sign at Didsbury station.

“People can travel with their dogs on the underground, buses and even first class on the train, why can’t they go on the trams?

“I can understand giving guidelines like dogs being well-behaved and on a lead.

“Lifting the unnecessary ban would help a lot of people and it makes sense.”

Dog-owner Kirstie Beasley (38), from Chorlton, has set up an online petition, which currently has 640 signatures, to support the campaign.

She runs a group for owners of pugs and often finds people are unable to attend because of the tram ban.

She added: “It would open up more avenues of places to go if we could use the Metrolink, especially at a time when we are encouraged to use public transport to ease congestion.

“It seems silly that people can use all modes of transport except the tram.”

On the petition, the campaigners claim Metrolink say that if dogs were allowed on the tram it would turn into a “zoo”.

Metrolink has said that the decision is out of its hands and is a decision made by Transport for Greater Manchester.

In response to the petition, Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink director, said that a review will be carried out in to the issue of the carriage of dogs on Metrolink with members of the TfGM Committee.

For more details of the petition visit www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/greater-manchester-metrolink-network-and-transport-for-greater-manchester-remove-the-ban-of-dogs-on-greater-manchester-metrolink-trams-2.